Pedestrian dies, others injured in weekend crashes

An Ocala man trying to cross the southbound lanes of U.S. 441 was killed early Sunday morning in one of three crashes in 24 hours in Marion County.

By Joe CallahanStaff writer

An Ocala man trying to cross the southbound lanes of U.S. 441 was killed early Sunday in one of three crashes over the span of 24 hours in Marion County, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.Also Sunday morning, an Ocala woman, who is also an area school principal, was arrested and charged with DUI with serious bodily injury after an accident injured two people.A third incident early Saturday morning led to officials to arrest an Ocala man on 15 counts of DUI-related charges after the driver crashed numerous times and fled the scene. He was eventually stopped by Marion County Sheriff’s deputies who used their patrol cars to stop him.The fatal accident occurred at 6:20 a.m. Sunday while Angelita Michala Gardener, 33, of Summerfield, was driving a 1992 Chevrolet Blazer south on U.S. 441.Just north of Northwest 35th Street, Raoul Alicea, 52, of Ocala, was walking east when he attempted to cross U.S. 441 and stepped into the path of the Blazer, according to FHP Sgt. Tammy Wildy.After Alicea was struck, he flipped onto the hood and then the windshield of the Blazer. He eventually landed in the inside southbound lane of U.S. 441. Alicea died at the scene.Traffic was blocked for several hours while FHP officers investigated the death. Charges are pending a further investigation.Six hours earlier, at 12:20 a.m., FHP troopers report that Mary Ann Staley, 52, of Ocala, was driving her 2013 Toyota Corolla north on Northeast Seventh Street when she attempted to cross two eastbound lanes of Silver Springs Boulevard.As she began to cross, the Corolla struck the passenger side of a 1994 Oldsmobile driven by Casteria Young, 59, also of Ocala. Young, and a passenger identified as James Bennett, 55, were both injured. Young was taken to Ocala Regional Medical Center and Bennett to Tampa General. Both are listed in serious condition, reports state.FHP officials said Staley, the principal of St. Paul’s Catholic School in Leesburg, was arrested on counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, DUI with injury and DUI with property damage.The third accident, which occurred at 2:33 a.m. Saturday, involved John R. Aiello, 42, who allegedly crashed his 2005 Chevrolet Silverado three different times and fled the scene each time, an FHP report states.After all the accidents were reported, Marion County deputies spotted Aiello’s vehicle at the intersection of State Road 200 and Southwest 80th Avenue. Deputies say that they tried to get Aiello to pull over, but he refused.“Deputies had to box Mr. Aiello’s vehicle in to get him to stop,” the report states.Aiello was transported to the hospital due to his impairment, which officials believe was some type of unknown drug.Aiello was arrested and charged with one count of felony DUI, two counts of felony DUI with property damage, seven counts of leaving the scene of an accident and five counts of misdemeanor DUI with property damage.Contact Joe Callahan at 867-4113 or at joe.callahan@starbanner.com. Follow him on Twitter at JoeOcalaNews.